Show SURPRISE IN MAINE A Even Maine is not so hidebound as many of us have hac been led to believe and the Pine Tree state has actually advanced beyond some of the com communities communities communities generally supposed to be bemore bemore bemore more progressive The people of Maine MaI l nave have voted that they shall have power to pass upon the acts of the legisla legislature legislature legislature ture either confirming them or nullify nullifying nullifying fy ing them by direct vote ote The people also will have the power to originate legislation This is the Initiative and referendum in all its glory The adoption of ot these principles at atthe atthe atthe the recent election has placed Maine alongside Oklahoma the act being about as radical as anything in the constitution of the new state Organ Organized Organized Organized labor and the farmers the latter represented by the granges carried the amendment to the constitution after a II fight lasting six years There is hope of Maine finally becoming a Demo Democratic Democratic Democratic cratic state The referendum is employed in one form or another in nearly all the states but in only afew n few does it apply to acts of the legislature In Okla Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma homa the principle is very ery broad much the same as in Maine The other states in which the initiative and referendum has its greatest growth are Oregon South Dakota Nebraska California Idaho and Montana In Ir none of these is there a more sweeping application n of the principle than in Maine The most conspicuous use of the ref referendum referendum referendum which has been a model to all other countries Is that of Switzer Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland land where the principle originated and has been in practice nearly I years Utah has not arrived at the point where the people are given a chance to veto eto the acts of the legislature |